The Atlanta police responded to reports of multiple shootings in the middle of the night near a high school.
The incident occurred on Sunday, May 28, after midnight. A teenager was fatally shot outside Benjamin E. Mays High School in Atlanta, following a confrontation that began at a graduation party, according to police.
Upon arrival, authorities found a critically injured 16-year-old girl. She was transported to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries, as confirmed by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.
During the same incident, a 16-year-old boy was admitted to a hospital with a gunshot wound, but he is in stable condition. The investigation has been transferred from the Atlanta Public Schools Police to the Atlanta Police Homicide Unit.
It has been revealed that the victim, Breasia Powell, was due to start working for the City of Atlanta on Tuesday as part of a youth employment program, according to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who spoke during a news conference on Sunday.
The Atlanta Homicide Department believes that the shooters were also of high school age.
A $10,000 Crime Stoppers reward has been offered to potential witnesses to come forward.
Mayor Dickens, an alumnus of Benjamin E. Mays High School, emphasized the necessity of providing students with a safe, enjoyable environment free of violence. He urged students to make responsible decisions and encouraged parents to remain involved in their children’s activities.
Dr. Lisa Herring, the Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, said that the district would continue to provide resources and mental health services to support students and their families. The district offers free telehealth and counseling services for all students, and Benjamin E. Mays High School will have on-site crisis teams available on Tuesdays to assist teachers and parents in finding resources for the summer months.
